William Tell Overshare: portrait of William Burroughs

“Artists to my mind are the real architects of change and not political legislators, who implement change after the fact.” – William Burroughs

William Burroughs shot his wife in the head while trying to shoot an apple off her head in a demonstration of marksmanship. He was acquitted when it was determined he was too drunk to aim straight at the time. His pose is similar to gun range targets (full frontal, elbow out), the composition is as mathematically disciplined as a Burroughs business machine, and the colors are informed by mural art of the Yucatan.